Tank-band fastener.



R. L. LEWIS.

TANK BAND FASTENBR.

Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

ROBERT L. LEWIS, OF BATAVIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHALLENGE COMPANY, OF

BATAVIA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TANK-BAND FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 19,1913.

Application filed September 17, 1912. Serial No. 720,803.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. Lnwis, a citizen of the United States,residing at Batavia, in the county of Kane and the State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tank-BandFasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to band-fasteners for securing the ends of bandsused to hold together tanks, silos, etc., and such that can be readilyadjusted to meet the needs of shrinkage or swelling of said tanks.

The main object of the invention is to construct a band-fastener thathas a connection with the ends of the bands, without the use of rivetsor bolts, such means being very unsatisfactory, as suitable holes arerequired to be drilled in the bands, furthermore upon a heavy strain onthe bands, these riveted connections very frequently break.

My improved tank bandfastener is fornied by upsetting the ends of thebands and inserting these ends into the fastenercasings, then insertingwedge-members in said casings, so that when the coupling-bolts are drawnup, said bands are held through the upset ends thereof contacting withthe wedge members, which wedge members in turn are held by thefastener-casings.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a horizontal section through aportion of a tank, one of the fasteners being shown in elevation and theother in section longitudinally. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of theband-fasteners as applied to a tank. Fig. 3 is a section taken on theline 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the wedgemember andone end of a tank band.

The band-fastener consists of two casingmembers 1 and 2, with which theends of the bands are adapted to be secured. These casings are adaptedto have suitable connections with which to draw the casings together,thus tightening the band about the tank, having here shown the casingsformed with outstanding heads l having the reinforcing side-flanges 5,said heads each having an opening 6, through which extends the bolt 7having screw-nuts 8, which bear against the heads 4; and which whenturned, either tighten or loosen the bands about the tank. The oppositeends of the casings h ave formed housings 9, open at their longitudinalends 10 and 11, the top of the casings being formed at an angle to thebase as is shown in Fig. 1.

The band 12 may be of any suitable shape, having here shown a band of asubstantially semi-circular shape, having a. flat side which rests nextto the tank, the band being upset at its end as at 13 so as to allowsaid upset end to enter opening 10.

The wedge-member 14lis shaped so as to have one face 15 conform to theshape of the band 12 and rest thereupon, the same face having adepression 16 adapted to receive the upset portion 13, and the oppositeside of the wedge being beveled at an angle coincident with that of thehousing 9.

In assembling or mounting the fastener, a single casing is t2 ken, theupset end 13 of a band inserted in the opening 10, far enough to allowthe wedge 1.4L to he slipped over it through the opposite opening 11,whereupon pulling the casing taut with the band, said band and wedgewill assume the position shown in Fig. 1, which is their operativeholding position. A bolt and nut is inserted in the head 4-.- A secondcasing is taken, se cured to said band, and the casing and its band issimilarly connected to the opposite end of the bolt and the nuts thendrawn up thereby tightening the band as much as is required.

It will readily be seen that a tank bandfastener of this constructioncan be easily adjusted and in the case of the breakage of a band, a newone can be easily inserted, all there being required is to upset the endof the band in the form already described.

I claim as my invention:

1. A band-fastener comprising casings, each formed with an inclosurehaving its longitudinal ends open, one side formed at an angle to thebase of the casing, and suitable head-portions formed with the base ofthe casing, a band having enlarged ends, the ends adapted to enter theinclosures, a wedge-member adapted to be inserted into each of theinclosures and being formed with a recessed face in which recess the enlarged end of a band is adapted to locate to hold the band ends inconnection with the casings through the contact of the band end andwedge-member, and the wedge-member and angle-side of the inclosure, andcoupling means adapted to connect said head-portions.

2. A band-fastener comprising casings, each formed with aninclosurehaving an open end and one side of the inclosure formed at anangle, a band having enlarged ends, the end portions of the band adaptedto enter said inclosures through tl e openings thereof, a wedge-memberfor each casing having a face recessed substantially in conformity withthe enlargement of said band ends and adapted to be inserted into eachof the inclosures, intermediate the enlarged portion of the band end andthe side of the inclosure formed at an angle, and with said enlarged endlocated in said recess thereby holding the band in connection with thecasing through the contact formed by the end and wedge-member, and thewedgemember and side of the inclosure formed at an angle, head-portionsfor the casings, and coupling means adapted to connect the headportions.

3. In a band fastener, the combination with casings, each having atapered opening and coupling means to connect the casings, of a bandhaving its ends enlarged and located in the tapered openings, and oftapered wedge-members located in said tapered openings and having theirfaces at their larger ends andadjacent the bands, inset substantially inconformity with the enlargements of said band ends and in which insetssaid band ends are located.

4. In a band fastener, the combination with a casing having a taperedopening, of a wedge-member located in said opening tapered substantiallyin conformity therewith, and having one of its tapered sides having aninset tapered face, and a band end located in the inclosure and havingan enlarged end with the enlargement thereof disposed in contact withsaid wedge-member inset face.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CHAS. L. NORTON, It. E. MoDANIELs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

